Bloopers...

[Mike of CAS]

Not booms in short or fluffed lines.. all the shows back then had those - and EastEnders still has the former!

Anyway... Just going through the DVD there are some nice bloopers.

Archive March:

Disc 1, Episode 2 - we have the Vision Mixer flash up a caption in the closing credits too soon, so the forthcoming Sheila Harvey, Sonia Fox is seen while the earlier names are still online.

Episode with the TV electrical shop: When Don leaves the shop you can see the 'street scenery' stop - and the reception set is in the background with a nice cameraman getting ready.

Episode 1914 - End Of Part One, leave it running - someone comes in to take the caption card away. Similar happens in the episode that goes into the break with Sandy and his dying bird in the park - someone walks past - floor manager seemingly - with a script.

Same episode the part two VT Clock the director cocks up his audio "Part 1, Take 2" then corrects himself.. "Part 2, Take 1!"

[jean9]

Archive Vol. 3 Disc 1: Episode 1961 Brian Jarvis looks at David's radio, then Cynthia Cunningham joins them in the sitting room.

Brian "You're looking very lovely this evening"
Cynthia "Thank you.  How's Mrs Jarvis?"
Brian "She's fine"  
Cynthia "Oh good.  And your little boy Richard isn't it"
David "Errr Cynthia, I was telling

David about..." [/list]

David   ... Brian Jarvis's real name is David Fennell...ooops!

[Mike of CAS]

EEK..!

There is a scene on the FEB one where an ATV Camera is reflected in the reception glass.

The MAR one has the episode with the two "C&A" model guests with Meg in yellow - the scene at the bar, when the camera is in its low down looking up shot, you can see it - and its flashing red light - in the bar mirror.

[paul ross]

Jane in the sitting room with Meg says Richardson instead of another name then corrects it - can't recall what name now nor episode. Also if you turn yer volum up a bit more than normal you can hear the cameras move around including when they change from a medium shot to a close up you can hear the dial on the side of the camera make a noise. I think in the Feb volume when someone enters the sitting room you can see part of a bath in the hallway!

[Steve F]

Mrs Witton could get no peace in the episodes where she's sitting alone in her flat, waiting for her date to arrive. The amount of studio noise that can be heard in the background is astonishing!

As for Episode 1914, I laughed muchly when the guy comes in to take the "End of Part One" caption card down. That encapsulates 70's Crossroads for me. It's ever so funny  

[paul ross]

Yes, that is a good example. The other two cameras must have been on the move to another set. As most of us know Crossroads had four cameras on the go at any one time. 2 for each scene with the other two at another part of the studio ready to start their scene.

[jean9]

Jane in the sitting room with Meg says Richardson instead of another name then corrects it - can't recall what name now nor episode. Also if you turn yer volum up a bit more than normal you can hear the cameras move around including when they change from a medium shot to a close up you can hear the dial on the side of the camera make a noise. I think in the Feb volume when someone enters the sitting room you can see part of a bath in the hallway!

That's episode 1900 on archive Vol 2.  David and Rosemary have just left the sitting room and Jane asks Meg whether it's true that Mr and Mrs Richardson are getting divorced  

You're right about the background noise.  In one of the scenes in the sitting room, can't remember which one, it sounds like there's a tea party going on in the studio, lots of clattering and banging.

[paul ross]

'clattering and banging'!!! that made me laugh! when theres a scene with Sandy and the commotion is behind the camera I have noticed he seems to raise his voice in the hope that it drowns it out!

I can recall a scene in reception circa 1982/3ish with Valerie and she's just had some tea off a try and when we cut to the office less than a minute later there's this almighty crash of the tray!!!!!

[Urbanite]

In the earliest surviving episode, Bill the soldier walks into the motel reception, and then is about to go into the kitchen. There is some unknown man sitting in the kitchen in shot and quickly notices the camera. He then quickly gets out of shot for another guy (who I have forgotten the name of) to make Bill go back behind the counter.

[paul ross]

Theres an interesting blooper in the summer of 84 in the new sitting room between David Hunter and Douglas Brady. As David rises off the sofa the camera seems to break down and swivels all over the place.

[Jill Chance]

Another reason why by 1984 the show should have been rehearse record. No wonder the critics were lashing it more than ever. And I was lashing a few critics myself at the time.

[paul ross]

Rehearse/record was not as interesting to watch! you would loose that live theatrical feeling. In any case if they had started rehearse/record it would have meant an end to rehearsals and most of the time having no weekends off! I can't see Barton going for that somehow.

[Mike of CAS]

Well it might not have been as interesting - but it would have been technically correct and not obviously seen by Andy Allen who arrived in 1984 as "old hat, out of date rubbish" which obviously led to its end.

Smethurst said he didn't look at the show, so 1984 is the year that did it in anyway. Had Barton brought it up to 1980s technical standards, it might not have got into the state it was with such major changes, and Central may not have been so embarrassed by it.

[paul ross]

They did make the changes though and Central/ITV still axed it. The rehearse/record situation certainly didn't improve anything performace wise from what I see! I'm just looking at 87 right now. I have come across the death of Mary Lancaster and the eps following this were very good! but then it sinks back down again within days.

[Mike of CAS]

I think it was certainly 'over changed' if thats the way to look at it due to the 1960s format still being used in 1984.

Of course Allens predecessor deliberately kept it 'as live' in the hope people would feel it was quaint and out of date, so it could be axed. There was no excuse for it not to have editing in 1980 - the amount of revenue it made it could have had it for say two episodes out of the four, which would ensure things like cameras breaking down and wobbling are not aired.